Category Archives: Hawaii

3 Surprising Ways the Kilauea Eruption Affected Hawaii Flower Farms

3 Surprising Ways the Kilauea Eruption Affected Hawaii Flower Farms

The Kilauea Eruption impacted Hawaii flower farms in many ways. Read this article to learn some of the more surprising impacts and to know about one farm that is still fine able to ship to the mainland US.

When the Kilauea eruption started at the beginning of May, it set off a chain of events that were absolutely devastating for the island. Not only were residences affected, but also many businesses, including the entire Hawaii flower industry.

Even though Hawaii ranks number forty in terms of population, it accounts for over 4% of the entire US flower industry. Given the scope of this eruption, it’s not hard to imagine the problems it has created.

To fully understand what’s occurred on the island, we want to dig into this issue by taking a close look at three surprising ways the Kilauea eruption has directly impacted island flower farms.

1. There’s a Shortage of Island Flowers

Because the eruption was incredibly powerful, the destruction of flowers isn’t all that surprising. What is surprising is the full magnitude of this destruction.

The scope of what the lava has done means it will still take more time to fully assess the damage across the entire island. But based on estimates by industry experts, it’s likely that half of Hawaii’s cut flowers are gone.

Part of what makes this so shocking is just how quickly it happened. When one orchid farm evacuated on June 1st, their surroundings looked sunny and beautiful.

Following that evacuation, it took less than 24 hours for over a quarter of the nursery to be destroyed. Fast forward just 48 more hours, and the entire 12-acre nursery was wrecked by the lava flow.

What makes this situation even more challenging is island flowers aren’t something that can quickly be regenerated by investing money. Instead, it takes a lot of time and care for wiped out flowers to return.

Using an example like orchids, the minimum amount of time to get fully back up with production is three years. That’s assuming all conditions remain optimal. A single factor going wrong could easily add another year of waiting.

2. Prices Have Gone Up

Although many flower farms around the island were completely wiped out, just as many people still want all the beautiful flowers that Hawaii has to offer.

In fact, all the media attention around the eruption has led to even more interest from the continental US in getting these flowers. Many people view this type of purchase as a way to support the Hawaiian economy.

While all forms of financial support are appreciated, the combination of decreased supply and increased demand has caused prices to rise. What’s interesting is this increase hasn’t only affected flowers sent to the mainland.

Throughout the island, flowers sought for local events like graduations and other ceremonies have gone up somewhat. And in some instances, locals and shippers to the mainland have extended their search for specific flowers outside the island of Hawaii.

The increase in both demand and prices for island flowers stands in contrast to many other businesses on the island. Most businesses associated with tourism have seen a quick decrease.

Just how hard have businesses like tour operators and hotels been hit? Most estimates show that the summer’s eruption cut typical tourism numbers in half. This tourism slump was made even worse by concerns about Hurricane Hector.

3. Farms are Getting Help from the Community

Despite mandatory evacuations, some of the most talked about videos and photos from the eruption are from Hawaiians who were incredibly close to the lava.

Given this commitment to the local area, the third impact likely comes as surprise to outsiders despite being expected by those who call the island home.

This impact is the support of the community towards farms that were ravaged by the eruption. Even though countless people lost their homes throughout this ordeal, they’ve been more than willing to lend a helping hand.

One example of this is a local organization bringing together dozens of farmers for an emergency resource meeting. By including other members of the community, the meeting was able to focus on how to move forward in the face of adversity.

This type of community support has been especially critical in rural areas. Working together to manage supplies and other vital resources has helped lift everyone. This is a trend that should continue as owners and employees work to rebuild.

A Hawaii Flower Company That Ships to the Continental US

Although the effects of this eruption on flower farms and the entire region were devastating, Hawaiians are not known for giving up. In the face of this disaster, the entire community has shown its strength and resilience.

With Our Aloha is a company that perfectly embodies the Hawaiian spirit. Even though the eruption created all kinds of challenges for the flower farming community as a whole, our company has worked nonstop to overcome them. This includes looking for the best available flowers and sourcing from other islands.

Because we’ve been in business since 2000, we know exactly what needs to be done in these types of situations. We are fully committed to providing every customer with a delightful experience, and that’s exactly what we continue to do.

Whether you’re ordering flowers for a holiday or fresh leis for a special event, you can count on us to get them to you. The same is true for the different monthly subscriptions we offer.

Not only can you count on With Our Aloha to deliver the best island flowers in a timely manner, but you can also depend on us to continue providing very attractive pricing.

We’re proud of our nearly two decades in business and look forward to many more as a Hawaii flower leader. If you need any assistance with your order, you can easily contact us online or by calling (808) 934-7295.

Hawaiian Hospitality Welcomes Like No Other

Many locals probably know Ho’okipa as a park in Maui – a place to surf or relax on the beach. But ho’okipa is much more than a beach or a park. The English translation is “hospitality,” but that is a word. Ho’okipa is a feeling, a sense of Hawaiian hospitality and even a way of life.

The tradition of welcoming guests and travelers with food and water is a literal description of ho’okipa. It is much like describing a marriage as a ceremony, in that the definition does not capture the true experience. The goal of ho’okipa is for the guest to know that they are important, that they matter, and that they are a welcome addition to the host’s lives, not a burden or a task.

An important aspect of ho’okipa lies in the choices made for how to welcome a guest. The tradition of greeting guests with a lei is long held. Remember that it is impolite to refuse a lei. Allow your host to place the lei around your neck and up on your shoulders.

Hosts also take great care in selecting the right foods to demonstrate their open and welcoming arms. Guests may not remember every detail of the meal, but, years later, they will remember the feeling of belonging. For ho’okipa, it truly is the thought that matters most.

When you select a gift, the goal is to please the recipient, to let them know that they are important, that they matter, and that they are a welcome addition in your life. Taking great care in selecting that gift can convey all that and more. Selecting something special, something outside of the everyday, is a great way to convey those thoughts. A unique gift of tropical flowers, or a gift basket of Hawaiian delicacies, or the world’s best coffee shows that your intent was much more than to send a gift. Your intention was for them to remember how important and welcome they are.

When you are ready to send not just a gift, but a feeling true Hawaiian hospitality, of ho’okipa, contact us.

The Delicious Dialect of Kona Coffee

“Coffee is a language in itself,” once said Jackie Chan.

How true is this statement; those of us who drink coffee daily know that coffee speaks. It gives a bit of refinement to any situation. It begs for good conversation at a large table with friends. Coffee desires a small table with the daily newspaper, or a sunrise drive to work. Yet coffee is not just coffee. The language of coffee has copious dialects. Many of which are comparatively unrecognizable.

Hawaiian kona coffee is widely regarded as some of the best coffee in the world. Kona Coffee Roasting gives a beautiful account of reasons for this. It describes that Hawaii simply seems to be the perfect habitat in which to grow tasty coffee. Weather in west Hawaii begins with a sunny start to the day which often fades into clouds. There is frequent precipitation and always warm temperatures. The volcanic soil adds to the unique flavor.

Kona Coffee Roasting goes on to describe the sensuality of Hawaiian coffee. “Hawaiian Kona coffee is often described as smooth, delicate, and full-bodied. Kona coffee is also described as robust, and usually with medium acidity. Some also say it has a caramelly aroma and a slightly nutty flavor.”

The specific taste of any coffee largely depends on how the coffee beans are roasted. So even among the varieties of Kona coffee, we suggest sampling a wide variety to discover exactly which one speaks to your palette.

Our Kona coffee is always 100% Kona unless labeled a blend. Some so-called “Kona blends” which often include as little as 10% Hawaiian grown coffee. Contact us. Browse our website. Look through our gift baskets. Indulge in the dialect of Kona along with some Hawaiian dessert snacks. These baskets make the perfect gift; the gift of bold aroma, the gift of luxury in taste.

Everybody loves giving and receiving a well-thought-out gift basket. Although any occasion is the right time to give a beautiful Hawaiian gift basket from With Our Aloha, if you need inspiration as to when to give a gift basket, here are a few ideas:

New Job

Why not present the friend or family member celebrating a new job, or job promotion with our 100% Kona Coffee Lover’s Hawaiian Gift Bag? They’ll start their new job off right with ground Kona coffee, macadamia nut biscotti, handmade Kona coffee cookies, and a beautiful Hawaiian print coffee mug to hold their coffee while they learn their way around that new job.

Baby Shower

Help the mom-to-be get a jump-start on managing the stress that comes with adjusting to becoming a new mom with our Stress Release Formula Hawaiian Gift Basket. The soon-to-be new mom will love the feeling of being pampered while she soaks in scented bath water, smooths on deep moisturizing lotion, and enjoys the stress relieving fragrance or our aromatherapy soaps. We use wild flower essences of lehua, yellow ginger and kinehe to soothe the nerves and relax the body.

Anniversary

Nothing says “I love you” like surrounding your lady with beautiful and relaxing scents to refill her soul. Our basket, Soul of a Woman does just that. Bath crystals, lotions, body mist and soaps are scented with mango, white ginger, banana and lehua harvested right here in Hawaii to soothe and rejuvenate the soul.

In a professional setting a simple gift can go a long way in strengthening business relationships. Saying ‘Thank You’ to an important client, employee or mentor makes a big impression.

If you are in charge of finding a large number of gifts for a company event, sales rewards or customer gathering consider a Hawaiian theme. We will help you design a gift bag or basket to meet your budget.

When most people hear the words “Destination Wedding in Hawaii,” the natural reaction is excitement. Who doesn’t want to go to Hawaii? For the couple getting married, stress follows excitement when they realize how much they need to accomplish from a distance.

Luckily, Hawaii hosts a lot of destination weddings, which means there are resources available to manage everything you need from wherever you call home. Many companies will plan and do everything for you, for the right price. While that may sound tempting and perhaps even ideal, remember that such a plan means that someone else is making a lot of the decisions about your wedding. While they may allow you to choose from various options, keep in mind that they have chosen the options from which you get to choose.

There are also companies that will provide just the level of support you desire. This type of company allows you to retain control over those elements that are most important to you, while allowing them to take care of things such as your Right-of-Entry Permit that will make it legal for you to get married on a beach. While each person will have different things that matter most to them, most people tend to care about location, their flowers, and the gifts they provide to members of the wedding and their guests. When it comes to those items, most people want more than a couple of choices. They also want everything to feel distinctly Hawaiian.

That’s where we come in. When you’re ready to choose your beautiful and distinctive leis and corsages, our selection will allow you to express yourself in the most Hawaiian of ways. What’s more, you can continue to express yourself, and provide a lasting memory, by selecting gifts for your wedding party that will remind them of your wedding in paradise for years to come.

If you’re ready to add the right touches to your Hawaiian wedding, contact us.

When you think of Hawaii, what comes to mind? Pristine aquamarine water and white sand beaches, or slack key guitar and warm sunsets? Or is it more than the visible beauty that makes this place so memorable? The taste of our unique cuisine popping on your tongue, or breathing in the sweet aroma of tropical flowers? We hope this Hawaiian gift giving guide will help.

Hawaii is a truly unique place on earth, and here on the Islands we do things differently. For anyone who has visited or lives here, we all know what it means to live Aloha. We take our shoes off before we enter a house; we let people merge during the commute (and send a thanks with a shaka); we hold the door open for aunty at the bank; we always bring pupus to a gathering, potluck is implied; and we always greet with a hug and kiss on the cheek.

The holidays are event a little different in Hawaii: we adorn palm trees with Christmas lights; Santa Claus is often seen surfing; the start of the holidays are marked with Honolulu City Lights Parade where Shaka Santa and Tutu are proudly unveiled each year at Honolulu Hale.

In Hawaii, living Aloha is intrinsic, second nature and for many is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Hawaii. During the holidays we can all take notes from the special way of life on the Islands, and give with Aloha.

When it comes to gift giving we all want to put a smile on the receiver’s face and leave a lasting impression. If you’re struggling with how to make that impression, keep Aloha in mind.

Make it personal
What about this person would show you care and really know them? Do they have a favorite sports team? A favorite color? Do they collect something? Do they work in a unique industry? A peacock shaped stocking to someone who loves peacocks; fancy note pads and gel pens for someone in the design industry; a candy lei filled with their favorite treats; make a meme dedicated to your friend and share it with them on social media; or a mug from their favorite football team would be thoughtful gifts.

Bring back memories
Despite the cheesiness, people love personalized photo gifts—a calendar or digital photo frame with photos from that road trip you took together; a photo book of all the Facebook posts you tagged each other in. Bringing back memories doesn’t always have to come in photo form. Make an ornament with shells from that beach you used to go to as kids; take apart that Halloween costume you two wore 10 years ago and make a scarf out of it; upload 25 days of your favorite memories with your pal for a cool Instagram advent calendar; make a Spotify playlist with songs that mean something to you and the recipient; or tie a quilt together using strips of cloth from old dresses and aloha shirts.

Something you could do together
Maybe there’s something you’ve been telling this person you should do together but haven’t yet—two tickets to the back alley play; a one month subscription to Areal Yoga; paddleboard rentals on North Shore; a camping permit for next summer on the Na Pali coast. Just remember that you have to do this gift with the person so don’t pick anything you won’t enjoy as well. And there’s always the guaranteed hit, a movie marathon, where you bring the awesome snacks.

Make it funny
Gag gifts can often be distasteful, and are only really appropriate for people with a certain sense of humor. But you can still make someone laugh without being crude. Maybe it’s a framed picture of their first Tweet, after you’ve been begging them to get on Twitter for years and they swore they would never tweet, ever; a guitar pick punch mold because they can never seem to find one when they want to play; or an oversized wine glass for a wine lover.

Regional
What makes where you live unique? Turning to your nearest local small business is often the best solution to finding a regional local gift. Find a local potter with up a pair of mugs; a local photographer with a framed photo of your region; a local author personalizing her latest release; or a farmer’s market vendor with their latest jam or jelly.

Whatever you give this season, the best advice for holiday giving is keep Aloha in mind. A gift from the Islands is a special way to remind your loved ones of where you live, where they used to live, remind them of their favorite vacation spot, or celebrate their enthusiasm about their upcoming vacation to Hawaii. If you are looking for a unique local gift grown in Hawaii and made in Hawaii we have a few suggestions below.

Remember you don’t have to wait to place your order! Fresh flowers ordered now will not be cut or prepared until a day before shipping. Pre-ordering now ensures your gift will arrive fresh, before Christmas, and prevent stress from last minute shopping.